Tongue switch for t rails



Mar. 3. 1925.

TONGUE SWITCH FOR T RAILS Filed Aug. 1o, 1921 '528,569 N. El. SALSICH ET AL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mar. 3 1925. N. E. sALslcH ET AL ToNGUE SWITCH FOR T RAILS Filed Aug. 10, 1921 /Yrg frA *a .a2

(2% Kmq? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 far/La .Patented Mar. 3, 1925,.l

UNITED STA- Tes PATENT oFFlcE.

NEIL E. SALSICH, OF BETHLEHEM, ANI) CHARLES A. ALBEN, OF STEELTON, PNNSYL- VANIA..

TONGUE SWITCH FOR T RAILS.

Application led August 10, 1921. kSerial No. 491,297.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that we, Nnn. E. SALsrcH and CHARLES A. ALBEN, citizens of the United States, and residing at Bethlehem, vNor,- thampton County. and "Steelton, Dauphin County, State'of Pennsylvania, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Im` prove-ments in Tongue Switches vfor T Rails, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a tongue switch for railway rails. The object of the invention is to provide switch structure which is simple, strong, efficient and lasting embodying T-rail sections secured together in proper relation by a number of interjacent spacing members and by bolts passing through them, one of the spacing members acting as a support for the heel o-f the switch tongue both vertically and horizontally and having end spacing portions on opposite sides of a transverse line at the heel bolted to the rails. This last mentioned member being subject to great strains and wear in use is made from a superior grade of metal such as manganese steel. The invention also embodies means for holding the switch tongue in proper working' position including a part movableto compensate for wear held against upward movementby sliding contact at its edges with finished rolled surfaces on the under side of the heads of adjacent rails with such operative connection to the tongue as to cause it to function asa hold'- ing down device for the tongue. Other novel features will be apparent from the following description and claims taken withy the raccompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan viewfof a switch structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 through the heel portion of the tongue and the adjacent parts of and in the manganese steel spacing member;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal'section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is across section on the line L1.41 of Fig. 1 and also Fig..3;

Fig. is a perspective view of the manga nese steel spacing member;

Fig. 6 is across section on the line/G-A- of Fig. 1 showing the endportion of the manganese steel inembe, thetw railway rails anda separate spacing member between one `railway rail and the guard rail';

, .Figj 7k is a cross section on line 7 7 of Fig. 1; and

.Fig..8 is a plan view of the manganese I steel spacing member.`

The embodiment of the invention shown for purposes of illustration includes the track rail lOpassing along and properl f spaced from the guard rail l11 and the drverging track rail 12 joiningy the switch mechanism at its end. The track rail 10 'and guard rail 11 are spaced apart and held in proper relation from the point of the tongue to a point near the heel by a series of spacing members which may be composed of inferior metal such as cast iron and which are so shaped in section as to iitand bear against the adjacent rails in. cont-act with the under surfaces of their heads and the upper surfaces of the bottom flanges with their upper surfaces between the facing edges of the two rails depressed to a transverse plane below said heads to serve as a supporting surface for the tongue at that point permitting free lateral movement thereof. One of these spacing members at the end of the tongue is shown at 13 in Fig. 7 and other similar spacing members of proper size and shape to properly fit and space the rails are placed at the points marked 14 and 15 in Fig. 1. Bolts 1S pass through the vertical flanges of the Yrails at proper intervals through or adjacent to the spacing members to rigidly secure and adjustably clamp the rails and spacing members together inproper relation. One of these bolts and its operative relation to the parts is shown in detail in Fig. 6.

As heretofore stated, the manganese steel member shown separately in Figs. and 8 and which may as a whole be designated 16, has portions which serve to space the track rail and guard rail 11 adjacent the heel of the tongue on opposite sides of that heel longitudinally of the rails and also a portion spacing the diverging track rail 12 from track rail 10 where rail12 joins the switch mechanism and it will benoted by reference`- to Fig. 6 that where the guard rail 11 overlaps the entering end of the diverging rail l2 there is a spacing'member 17 of inferior metal such as cast iron interposed between them and the three rails with their interposed spacing members are securedand clamped rigidly together by one of the bolts 18. This produces a strong and lasting structure with the manganese steel member Alappingcor extending, to opposite sides of the connection of the diverging rail. rlhe tongue 19 rests on the upper surface of the spacing members at intervals from -its heel end to its point and may, of course, be moved laterally on a pivot .at its'he'el to bring its point against or removed from track rail 10. vThe heel end of; the tongueis semicircular? in section with its upper surface in the same straightlongitudinalplane as the balance of the tongue and it yhas formedthereon a downwardly extending pin 2O of a diameter about equal to -the width of -the tongue on the line ofthe pinthe surface on the outer face of said pin being cylindrical and in effect a vertical vcontinuation of the semicylindrical heel end of the tongue and its lower end iSon-a planeparallel to the upper and lower surfaces of the tongue. The inner side of pin 20 facing the .point of the tongue `is circular in section but tapers inwardly and upwardly of the pin, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. `vThe lower endfof the vpin y20 rests on a portion of tliemanganese steel member 1G between vits ends and the 4pin is so engaged by said member and cooperating parts carried by it as to support and securelyvso hold-it andthe attached tongue as to prevent upward, lateral or longitudinal movement aside from its turning movement on the pin and is adapted to be adjusted to take up any looseness developed by wear, but in order to clearly .understand how this is done a more detailed consideration of "the structure and operation.ofmember I16is necessary.

VThe manganese steelmember 1G is formed as a one piece casting having an end portion "21 so shaped and of'such cross sectional size as to lit along its edges the facing sides of track rail 1() and guide rail 11 along the under surfaces of their heads and fthe upper surfaces of .their vbase flanges servingto vspace the 4rails and with its flat uppersurface in the plane of rthe -upper surfaces of the other spacing members13, Mfand 15 so that the tongue rests -on it. 'It is -provided rwith a transverse :bolt hole Aand .is lsecured and clampedzto the Arails by one-of the bolts 18. yA .bottom platelor wall-22 .of material length connects ,end portion 21 to theother end portion23 of` member 16 fitting along its ltransversely inclined margins .on :the botto1n;1langes of rails,I 10A and lland. since its uppersurface is materially helowithe upper surfaceof. theoportion 21a vertical trans- .verse. wall Orabutment-QL isformed at' the planewhere they join. The. por-tion 123 is terially longer than 21A and has longitudi nal side extensions 25 and 26 fitting and spacing rails 10 and 11 respectively, the eX- tension 25 making Contact with track rail 10 extending throughout Ithe' full'length of the portion 3 but extension 2G terminating onthe cross plane where the end of the di- `verging .track rail 12 joins the, member. ABeyond that cross plane there is a longitudinal side extension 2T on the same side as 2G l`so .spaoedfrom extension 25 as to lit along 4the side of the diverging rail 12 serving with thev opposite .part of-y extension 25 to space the track rails 10 and 12. The portion 23 of the manganese steel -member-fl has an elevated surface28falong itsrccntral portion on lthe plane of the topofthe rails `andthe tongue having flange groovesbetweenzit and -rails 10-and 11. `The width ofthis elevated portion where it oins ithe=l1eelf of 1the tongue is t-he same as ithat of the-heel portionfand there is a central semicylindrical lrecess or socket '29 formed inthe `'end of said elevated portion extending from itsl upper surface down to'plate22 partly between the ends of eXtensions125 and 267which terminate in' a transverse plane through V'the center .lineof said cylindricalportion. The semicircular heel end ofthe tongue andi-the outer face of its pin 2O tf in vsaid .se1nicircular recessor socket withlthe upper surf-aceiof'the tong-ue in the same plane as the ysurface 28 and the lower end of the pin -restingon the bottom plate or wall22.- 'In the space between -:the tongue 19, bottom plate 22, upwardly iprojecting wall '24 and lpin v20 twomov'able yblocks 8()v and 31-are mounted. 'The block 30 enters'rthe space :laterally `through an opening 32 l'in the upright'liange orrsecton of guard rail 11-with oneedgeiincontact with wall24 and itsother edge facing block 311=inclined towards that -wall from its outer end inward. "Blockl .has oneiedge inclined to match and itthe -inclined edgeof block 30 Ibut its opposite-edge facing the pin `20 has a recess lsemicirculaiwin Lsection tapered in conical form upward"from its bottom closely"litti11gtlie matching tapered vport-ion yof pin 20. BlockBO moves laterally aud iby a wedging action movesblock 81 :longitudinally towards pin 20. fBlock 31 cannotfmove laterally or yupwardly because itvhas :longitudinally and upwardly extending--parallel side Iportions or-ridges and A.Selma'vith smooth u-ppeiwsurfaces closely fitting vthe finished rolled under surfaces `of ,the heads of rails 10 and 111permittingimlylongitudinal :sliding .movement along those, rails towards or from the pin. llhe meansv for Kforcingwedge block 30 inward toadjustably move block 31 towards 4the .pin :includes a bolt 35 `p assing laterally through openings 86 and 37 at the inclined ends of thesevblocks with the head .of ,the bolt resting `against block 31 and the other screw, threaded end projecting-beyond lthe oi 1ter end.of bloek.30

and there provided with an Aeasily accessible screw threaded nut 38 for adjustment. Since the engagement of its ridges 38 and 34 with the under surface of the rail heads holds it down and prevents upward movement, it will be seen that side pressure forcing it against the pin will not only force it into tight contact with the surface of the semicircular-recess which it fits and compensate for and take up any looseness of the pin in its bearing due to wear but will by reason of the tapered form of the contacting surfaces of the pin and block tend to move the pin and the attached tongue downward and the leverage from the opposite lower edge of the pin resting on plate 22 will make this tendency greatest on the tongue point side and it will thus serve as a holding down device for the tongue.

The upper surface 28 of the portion 23 of the manganese steel member 16 is reduced in transverse section ashort distance from the semicircular recess 29 being contracted on the side next to the guard rail 11 where the diverging track rail 12 oins it and as shown, this contraction is in a curved line and is sufficient to receive the end of rail 12 correspondingly curved in section at its end with the side of'its head next to the guard rail in line with the side of the full width portion and from that point to the end the side of portion 28 fits the head ofrail 12 next to track rail 10. As shown in the drawings, the upper surface of portion 28 outside of the plane of contact with vertical wheels may be slightly elevated.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that we provide a built-up switch construction as contra-distinguished from a single cast unit. Our construction consists of an ordinary main rail 1() which extendsbeyond the ends of the construction, a second main rail 12 which terminates at an intermediate point, and a. guard rail 11. The main rail 10 and the guard rail 11 are'bent or offset oppositely to provide clearance for the switch tongue 19. The main rails 10 and 12 and the Ymain rail 10 and the guard rail 11 are spaced apart by the spacing and supporting member 16, which has a terminal spacing portion 21 to fit between the main rail 10 and the guard rail 11, an intermediate spacing portion defined by the edges 25 and 26 to fit between the main rail 10 and the guard rail 11, and a second terminal portion de lined by the edges 27 and 25 and whichts between the main rails 10 and 12. Each of the spacing portions referred to fits against rail webs and is provided with transverse and horizontal openings registering with similarvopenings in the webs and, through which the bolts 18 pass to hold the construction together. y

The sides of the terminal spacing portion 21 and of the intermediate spacing portion are aligned and converge to lit the con vergent. space between the main rail 10 and the` guard rail 11, whereas the edge 27 of the other terminal spacing portion is offset to provide space to receive the end of the main rail 12. The latter terminal spacing porf tion spaces the main rails; and, preferably, a spacing member 17 is arranged at the opposite side of the main rail 12 to space the latter from the guard rail 11. Bolts 18 pass through the webs of the three rails and the spacing members 16 and 17 to hold the structure rigidly together at one end.

The spacing and supporting member 16 is provided with an elevated portion which abuts the end of main rail 12 and which has a wheel-thread surface in alignment with that of the main rail 12. As already referred to, the spacing and supporting member 16 has a vertical concave face 29 at one end of the elevated tread portion which tits a convex surface at one end of the switch tongue 19, the latter having a tread surface adapted to align with that of said elevatedy portion. A t its other end, the tongue is shaped to i'it the offset side surfaces of the main rail 10 and the guard rail 11.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the parts, such as the tongue 19 and the spacing and supporting member 16, particularly the elevated tread portion thereof, which are submitted to excessive strains or wea-r, may be made of relatively harder steel such as manganese steel. Since only the tongue and the elevated tread portion of the supporting and spacing member are provided with wheel-tread surfaces, the remainder of the wheel tread surfaces being provided by rolled rails of the ordinary type, it will be obvious that the problems of casting and machining are greatly simplified, particularly when our device is compared to cast units common in the art; and, when it is considered that manganese steel is very difticult to machine it will be apparent that the reduction of machining afforded by our construction is advantageous.

While one specific embodiment of the invention is shown for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that it is not in its broad features limited to that form beyond what is called for by the terms of description in the claims. o

Having thus describe@ the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tongue switch, the combination with Va track rail and a guard rail of a tongue having a downwardly extending piu at its heel end, a pin engaging member mov able longitudinally of said rails and having sliding contact with the adjacent under sur faces of the heads of said rails on the side of the pin next to the point of the tongue preventing upward movement of said memllt) ber, means for adjustably moving said member against said pin the operative connection between said member and pin being such that said member will act as a holding down device for the tongue in addition to compensating for wear.

2. In a tongue switch, the combination with a track rail and a guard rail of a tongue having a downwardly extending pin at its heel end, a rail spacing and heel supporting and engaging member made of a superior grade of steel rigidly secured to said rails on opposite sides longitiulinally of said heel and embodying means for supporting said heel and maintaiiiing itin proper operative position both vertically and horizontally.

3.111 a tongue switch, the combination with a track rail and a guard rail of a tongue having a downwardly extending pin at its heel end, a rail spacing and heel supporting and engaging member made of a superior grade ot steel rigidly secured to said rails on opposite sides longitudinally of said heel and embodying means for supporting said heel and maintaining it in proper operative position both vertically and horizontally and carrying means for so adjusting the contact and bearing surfaces as to compensate for wear in use.

4. In a tongue switch the combination with a tongue adapted to lie between a track rail and a guard rail having a straight line top surface to and including its heel end, an integral downwardly extending pin at said heel end, the said heel end of said tongue and the corresponding side of said pin being semicylindrical with its vertical axis on the center line of said tongue of a supporting member adapted to tit between said rails composed of high grade steel embodying a portion with a semicircular recess in its end litt-ing and abutting the semicircular heel end of the tongue and the outer face of the pin with its upper surface in the plane of and constituting a continuation of the upper surface of the tongue, an integral bottom plate extending under and mate-rially beyond said pin and serving as a support for its lower end, an integral upwardly7 extending wall on said plate a material distance from said pin with its upper surface so positioned as to support the tongue and adjustable means between said wall and pin cooperating therewith for forcing said pin into close contact with said member in said semicircular recess to compensate for wear.

5. In a tongue switch the combination ith a tongue having a straight line top surface to and including a heel end semicircular in form transversely and an integral downwardly extending pin at said end7 the outer face of which is semicylindrical on the lines of said heel end with a vertical axis on the center line of said tongue and the inner face of which is tapered inwardly from the lower end, of a supporting member composed of high grade steel embodying a portion with a semicircular recess in its end titting and abutting the semicircular heel end of the tongue and the outer face of t-he pin with its upper surface in the plane of and constituting a continuation of the -upper surface of the tongue, an integral bottom plate extending under and materially beyond said pin and serving as a support for its lower end,- an integral upwardly extending wall on said plate a material distance from said pin with its upper surface so positioned as to support the tongue and adjustable means including a tapered surface matching the tapered surface of said pin between said wall and pin cooperating therewith for forcing said pin into close contact with said member in said semicircular recess to compensate for wear and tending to hold it and the tongue down, said supporting and spacing member including main and guard rail spacing portions.

6. In a tongue switch the combination with a track rail and a guard rail of a tongue havingv a straight line top surface to and including a heel end semicircular in form transversely and an integral downwardly extending pin at said end, of a support-ing member between and spacing said rails composed of high grade steel embodying a portion with a semicircular recess in its end fitting and abutting the semicircular heel end of the tongue and the outer face of the pin with its upper surface in the plane of and constituting a continuation of the upper surface of the tongue, an integral bottomplate extending under and materially beyond said pin and serving as a support for its lower end, an integral upwardly extending wall on said plate a material distance from said pin with its upper surface so positioned as to support the tongue7 a wedge block movable laterally in contactwith said wall between its top and bottom, a pin engaging block between said wedge block and pin engaged by said wedge block and movable thereby towards said pin and having a semicircular recess in its forward side titting and engaging the inner surface of said pin and means for moving said wedge block laterally.

7. In a tongue switch the combination with a track rail and a guard rail, a tongue having a straight line top surface to and including a heel end semicircular in form transversely and an integral downwardly extending pin at said end the outer face of which is semicylindrical on the lines of said heel end and the inner face of which is tapered inwardly from the lower end, of a supporting member composed ofhigh grade steel embodying a portion with a semicircular recess in its end fitting and abut-ting material distance from said pin with its upper surface so positioned as to support the tongue, a Vpin engaging block between said tongue and-bottom plate having a recess semioircular in section tapering inwardly fitting the tapering inner face of said pin and having side projections fitting and longitudinally slidable on the under surfaces of the said rails and adjustable means between said wall and pin engaging block for forcing said block towards said pin to compensate for wear and to hold said pin and the tongue down.

8. ln a tongue switch the combination with a track rail and a guard rail, a tongue having a straight line top surface to and including a heel end semicircular inform transversely and an integral downwardly extending pin at said end the outer face of which is semicylindrical on the lines of said heel and the inner face of which is tapered inwardly from the lower end, of a supporting member composed of high grade steel embodying a portion with a semicircular recess in its end fitting and abutting the semicircular heel end of the tongue and the other face ofthe pin with its upper surface in the )lane of and constituting a continuation of tlie upper surface of the tongue, an integral bottom plate extending under and materially beyond said pin and serving as a support for its lower end, an integral upwardly extending wall on said plate a material distance from said pin with its upper surface so positioned as i to support the tongue, a wedge block havino' a tapered end entering laterally between the tongue and bottom plate through an opening in the vertical flange of the guard rail and bearing at one edge against said upwardly extending wall, a pin engaging block between and in`V contact with said wedge block and pin between said tongue and bottom plate having a recess semicircular in section tapering downwardly fitting the tapered portion of the pin and having lateral extensions in sliding engagement with the under surfaces of the heads of said rails and means accessible for operation on the outer side of said guard rail for adjustably moving said wedge block inward forcing said pin engaging block into close contact with said pin.

9. In a tongue switch the combination with a track rail and a guard rail of a tongue between them having a straight line top surface to and including a heel end semicircular in form transversely and having an integral downwardly extending pin at said end, a cast manganese steel pin supporting and rail spacing member comprising an end portion engaging said rails along its sides between their heads and base flanges and rigidly secured thereto with its upper surface between the rails serving as a support for the tongue and an opposite end portion having a semicircular recess fitting the heel end of the tongue and pin and having its central upper surface in the saine plane as the upper surface of the tongue with its side surfaces at and by said recess at a lower level laterally engaging and secured to said rails between their heads and flanges, an integral bottom plate fitting the adjacent bottom flanges of said rails connecting said end portions and adjustable means between said end portions below said tongue and above said plate for so engaging and exerting pressure on said pin as to make it fit the recess tightly and to hold it and the tongue down. n

l0. In a tongue switch the combination with a track rail and a guard rail of a tongue between them having a straight line top surface to and including a` heel end semicircular in form transversely and having an integral downwardly extending pin at said end, a cast manganese steel, pin supporting and rail spacing member comprising an end portion engaging said rails along its sides between their heads and base flanges and rigidly secured thereto with its upper surface between the rails serving as a suppoit for the tongue and an opposite end portion having a semicircular recess fitting the heel end of the tongue and pin and having its central upper surface forming in effect a fixed continuation of the tongue surface in elevation and width for a fixed distance beyond the recess but there contracted on the side next to the guard rail sufficiently to receive and laterally fit the head portion of another track rail, the lower side edges between said recess and contracted portion fitting between and secured to said track rails, an integral bottom plate connecting said end portions and means acting on said pin forV adjusting and securing in place said tongue. c

ll. In a tongue switch the combination with a main rail and a guard rail of a tongue between said rails having a pivot pin at its heel. end, spacing blocks of cast metal between said rails rigidly engaging and secured thereto between the point and heel of the tongue with their upper surfaces on a transverse plane below the heads of the rails serving as supports for the tongue, a cast metal member of manganese steel extending along between said rails across the transverse line of the heel of the tongue lll) @ messes iitting and rigidlysecured to said rails on both sides et said line so constructed as'topivotally support said pin and means carried by vsaid lastmentioned members lor adjusting the pivot connection of said tongue and preventing upward movement otl the tween and spacing the guard rail-and the first main rail, and a tongue member pivoted to lthe first member adjacent to saidportioirand having.v its upper surface in alignment with the wheel-tread bearing surface of said portion, said tongue extending between theguard rail and the-tirst main rail.

In a switch construction, a supporting and spacing member having Vterminal and intermediate spacing port-ions and a portion extending above the spacingportions and having an end intermediate tne4 ends oi the supporting and spacing meinber and provided -with an upper wheeltread bearing surface.

ill. in a switch construction, a vsupporting `and spacing member having terminal and intermediate spacing portions, anda heel-supporting portion extending above:

the intermediate and one of'said terminal spacing portions, the end ill-ace oie the wheelsupporting portion and said intermediate spacing portion opposite to the other terminal spacing portion being concave.

l5. In a switch construction, a supporting and spacing member having a spacing portion at one end and an intermediate spacing portion connected by -a bottomplate'por'- tion, a spacingportion'at the other end ot the member and narrower tlianthe spacing' portion'at the liirst end or the intermediate spacing portion, and a wheel-supporting ce inalignment with.

i portion extending: above the'spaeing. portions.

16. in a switch member. havingan end spacing portion.y provided with converging sides, an intermediate spacing portion provided with convergingsides aligned with the converging. sides-oi` said end spacing portion, andaspacing 4portion-at the other end oi the member havingsides converging in the same direction as the sides of the ii'st end portion and the intermediate portion, said lastnained end its sides in alignment with one side of the intermediate portion and with one side'of the first end portion and having its other sidfe'oiiset.inwardly with respect torthe corresponding side of theintermediate-portion.

l?. In a .switch construction, =a`spacing ineinberff'or'inain andguard rails having an end and intermediate guard vandinain rail spacing. portions provided with converging and aligned lateral faces, an end spacing portion for main rails having vone lateral tace in alignment with ay face ot the intermediate portion and having the other lateral face oii'set inwardly vot' the member with respect to the corresponding lateral iaceot the intermediate spacing portion.

18. In a switch construction, the combination ot two main rails and a guard rail, arranged side -by side and the main rail intermediate the other main rail and the guard rail Aterminating intermediately ot' the construction, a spacing and supporting,member having a spacing portionbetween the main rails and a. spacing' portion between a main rail and the guard rail, said member also having a wheel-tread portion abutting said terminus of al main rail, a tongue having an upper wheel-tread surface andhaving one end 'abutting said portion and the tongue extending between the main and guard rails, said end of the tongue having iadownwardly extending pivot pin, and said member having 'bearing and supporting surfaces for the tongue and pin.

In testimony whereof we hereunto alix our signatures.-

NEIL saLsIoH. CHARLES A. ALBEN.

construction, a Espacn'ig;

spacing-,portion having; one otV 

